Mowing Shoulder/bank mowing (Side-shift mowers)

[RAW]

On a tractor, what would be the best way to cut foliage along a road/driveway where you can't drive over the vegetation?

For example, mountain roads where the road is bordered by steep bank on both sides.

I've seen some side-shift flail mowers. And of course there are always the boom mowers. But I'm curious about the easiest/quickest/cheapest route.

Is there something I haven't thought of?

Thanks

 

[sandman2234]

Depending on the amount of ditch, and your budget, you can get anywhere from a push mower on an arm to a full fledged boom mower. Even Steiner has one for my lawnmower (but who can afford one?)
David from jax

 

[JoshJ]

a sickle bar mower works well if you just trying to knock stuff down and arent doing any fine cutting/trimming

 

[LBrown59]

On a tractor, what would be the best way to cut foliage along a road/driveway where you can't drive over the vegetation?

For example, mountain roads where the road is bordered by steep bank on both sides.

I've seen some side-shift flail mowers. And of course there are always the boom mowers. But I'm curious about the easiest/quickest/cheapest route.

Is there something I haven't thought of?

Thanks

A combination tow behind clamp on mower.
It could be towed behind any tractor ATV etc or clamped on the bucket of any FEL.
Do a search on lbrown59:
You'll find a lot of post in several threads on this subject by a lot of members

 

[RAW]

I wish there were more cutters like this manufactured and sold in the states.

Ditch and Roadside Mowers - Road Maintenance Equipment - The St. George Company - Seppi Ditch mower,bank mower,road maintenance mower,mulching mower,flail mower,flail ditch mower,flail bank mower,roadside mower,roadside flail mower,offset ditch mower,inl

 

[daTeacha]

Would an offset trail mower work for you?

 

[LBrown59]

Would an offset trail mower work for you?

A trail mower is worthless for mowing out over ditiches and banks.

 

[daTeacha]

It's hard to believe that nobody has built one that can pivot up or down relative to the towing vehicle. Might be an opportunity for someone with the right abilities.

 

[LBrown59]

It's hard to believe that nobody has built one that can pivot up or down relative to the towing vehicle. Might be an opportunity for someone with the right abilities.

Part of that could be done by using a rotating tongue instead of a fixed one.

 

[LBrown59]

Would an offset trail mower work for you?

The only thing off set about them is that they position the tractor further away from the Ditch/bank.
You still have not extended your reach out over the bank/ditch and are therefore mowing the same area you are already mowing with a tractor and MMM so you haven't gained a thing.
An off set mower only affects the trail being followed behind the tractor and has no affect on the area being mowed.
Actually with an off set mower it's the tractor that's being off set not the mowing area.
The mowing path needs to be off set with a mower that changes the area being mowed rather than just simply changing the path a mower follows over the very same area
An off set tongue won't get it but a mower that is truly off set could.